Illuminated paper supporting device



Oct. 3o, 1934. p SAUNDERS Lef/'8,553

ILLUMINATED PAPER SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 18, 1935 .11. l V33 .3B-

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Patented Oct. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT lori-ILE Paul Saunders, Auburn, Mass., 'assigner of onehalf to Howard M. Booth, Worcester, Mass.

Application/December 18, 1933, Serial No. 702,922

Claims.

This invention relates to paper supporting devices particularly designed for use when making notes or records under poorly lighted conditions. Examples of such use are the making of notes 'by reporters on night assignments or the reading of meters in basements or dark hallways.

It is the object of my invention to provide an improved construction by which a writing surface may be conveniently illuminated when desired and in which the illumination may be conveniently controlled by the hand which holds the pad or paper.'

A further object of the invention is to provide improved meansvfor supporting an electric bulb,

battery and switch in predetermined relation to a writing surface and to the support thereof.

My improved device is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and effective and reliable in use.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawing, in which Fig. l1 is a plan view of my invention, with portions of the pad broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my invention, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation of the support for the paper pad;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view, taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2 and showing the battery block and parts associated therewith;

Fig. 5 is a top view, looking in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig. 4 and with the batteries partially broken away;

Fig. 6 is a sectional end elevation, taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view, taken along the line '7-7 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, my improved paperholding device comprises a support 10, preferably formed from slightly resilient sheet metal and having an upper end portion 11 curved forwardly (Cl. 24o-6.4)

A battery block is provided, having an opening 21l (Fig. 4) for a socket 22 to receive a small electric bulb 23. The block 20 is provided with a semi-circular recess 24 (Fig. 6) to receive batteries B and B and is also provided with integral su end portions 25 and 26 (Fig. 4). When the battery block 20 is assembled with the support 10, the end portions 25 and 26 t closely within the curve of the upper portion 11 of the support, as shown in Fig. 2, and close the ends of the device.

Contact members 27 and 28 (Fig. 4) on the block 20 are arranged to engage the outer ends of the batteries B and B respectively. The contact member 27 also engages the socket 21 and the contact member 28 also engages the center terminal of the bulb 23. The contact member 28 is nor- Amally spaced from the battery B' and engages a push button 30 in the end wall 26 of the block 20.

The end wall 26 directly engages and positions one end of the battery B' but is recessed as indicated at 31 (Fig. 5) to receive and clear the upturned end of the contact member 28.

When the button 30 is pushed in, the contact member 28 engages the center terminal in the battery B' and thereby completes the light circuit. The batteries B and B' are disposed in the semicircular recess 24 (Fig. 6) and are held from displacement by the curved end portion 11 of the support 10 when the parts are assembled.

The end portion 11 (Fig. 3) is provided with depending lugs 32, with depressed portions 33, and with a segmental projecting portion 34 (Fig. 1). The block 20 is provided with depressions 35 (Fig. 7) positioned to receive the depressed portions 33 when the parts are assembled.

The end portion 11 of the support 10 is normally positioned as indicated in Fig. 3 but may be raised by applying outward pressure to the projection 34 to permit endwise insertion of the block 20. In Fig. 1 I have indicated in dotted lines the position of the block 20 and associated parts when the block is partially inserted in the support l0.

After the block 20 is thus inserted, the lugs 32 hold the block 20 rmly against the curved upper end portion 11 of the support and prevent downward displacement thereof. The portions 33 en- All parts of the device are of very simple construction and the block B may be conveniently molded in one finished piece from suitable nonconducting material. It will be evident that no 5 tools are necessary in separating or assembling the battery and support or in replacing the batteries or light bulb.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim isz- 1. An illuminated paperholding device, comprising a substantially rigid but slightly flexible support for sheets of paper, means to secure the paper to said support, and a battery block on which a flash-light bulb, batteries and switch are assembled, said support having a forwardly and downwardly curved integral end portion snugly engaging said block, and said end portion having yoffset lugs to hold said block from lateral displacement.

2. An illuminated paper-holding device comprising a substantially rigid but slightly flexible support for sheets of paper, means to secure the paper to said support, and a battery block on which a flashlight bulb, batteries and switch are assembled, said support having a forwardly and downwardly curved integral end portion snugly engaging said block and having depressed portions engaging recesses in said block to prevent endwise` displacement thereof.

3. An illuminated paper-holding device comprising a substantially rigid but slightly flexible support for sheets of paper, means to secure the paper to said support, and a battery block on which a flashlight bulb, batteries and, switch are assembled, said support having a forwardly and downwardly curved integral end portion snugly engaging said block and having means toprevent lateral and endwise displacement of said block, and said curved portion having a segmental projecting portion forming a shield for said bulb.

4. An illuminated paperholding device comprising a substantially rigid but slightly exible support for sheets of paper, means to secure the paper to said support, a battery block on which a ashlight bulb, batteries and switch are assembled, and means to detachably secure said block on said support, said block having a semi-cylindrical recess in one edge to receive the batteries, and integral end portions enclosing said batteries when the parts are assembled, one of said integral end portions directly engaging one end of one battery and being recessed to receive and clear a part of said switch.

5. An illuminated paper-holding device comprising a substantially rigid but slightly flexible support for sheets of paper, means to secure the 100 paper to said support, and a battery block on which a flash-light bulb, batteries and switch are assembled as a unit, said support having a Iorwardly and downwardly curved integral end portion yieldingly engaging said unit and detach- 105 ably securing the unit in operative position on said support.

PAUL SAUNDERS. 

